SAFe-Practitioner SAFe Practitioner Exam (6.0) Questions and Answers

n: Product Management is responsible for defining desirable, viable, feasible, and sustainable solutions that meet customer needs and supporting development across the product life cycle. They align the product strategy, vision, and roadmap to the portfolio’s strategic themes and lean budgets. They also create, maintain, and adjust the program backlog, which contains the features and enablers that the Agile Release Train (ART) will implement. They work with customers, teams, and product owners to understand and communicate their needs and participate in solution validation. They also collaborate with system architects and the release train engineer to guide the ART toward successful delivery12. References: Product Management - Scaled Agile Framework, Agile Release Train - Scaled Agile Framework

 = An empathy map is a tool used to better understand and empathize with a specific group of people, such as customers or users. It helps teams gain deeper insights into the thoughts, feelings, needs, and behaviors of the target audience. An empathy map consists of four quadrants that reflect what the user said, did, thought, and felt during the research phase. An empathy map helps to synthesize the user data, identify the user needs, and generate insights for the design challenge. References: = Empathy Map – Why and How to Use It | IxDF, What Is an Empathy Map? [Complete Guide] - CareerFoundry, What Is an Empathy Map? | Coursera

 User Stories are the types of work that are found within the Agile Team Backlog. User Stories are short descriptions of a small piece of functionality that provides value to a user or customer. They are written from the perspective of the user or customer and follow the format: “As a , I want , so that ”. User Stories are the primary way of expressing the requirements and features in the Agile Team Backlog. They are estimated, prioritized, and implemented by the Agile Team in Iterations. User Stories are derived from Features in the Program Backlog, as well as from the team’s local context and other stakeholders. References: Team Backlog, User Stories, Story

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) is a servant leader and coach for the Agile Release Train (ART), which is a group of Agile teams that work together to deliver value. The RTE facilitates the ART events and processes, and supports the teams in delivering value. They communicate with stakeholders, escalate impediments, help manage risk, and drive relentless improvement. The RTE also serves as the Scrum Master for the ART, which means they help the teams apply and improve the Scrum practices, such as planning, reviewing, and retrospecting. The RTE is not the technical leader, the content authority, or the program manager of the ART, but rather the facilitator and enabler of the ART’s success. References: Release Train Engineer - Scaled Agile Framework, Release Train Engineer (RTE): Responsibilities and Skills | Indeed.com

 The daily stand-up is a 15-minute meeting that occurs every day during the Iteration, where the Agile team members synchronize their work, share their progress, and identify any impediments or dependencies. The daily stand-up follows a simple format, where each team member answers three questions:

What did I do yesterday to advance the Iteration goals?

What will I do today to advance the Iteration goals?

Are there any impediments that will prevent the team from meeting the Iteration goals? These questions help the team members to align their actions with the Iteration goals, communicate their status and plans, and raise any issues or risks that need to be addressed. The daily stand-up also fosters collaboration, accountability, and transparency among the team members, and enables them to adjust their work as needed to deliver value. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Daily Stand-up

The Inspect and Adapt workshop is a significant event held at the end of each Program Increment (PI), where the current state of the Solution is demonstrated and evaluated by the Agile Release Train (ART) teams. The workshop consists of three parts: PI System Demo, Quantitative and qualitative measurement, and Retrospective and problem-solving workshop. The PI System Demo is the first part of the workshop, where the ART shows all the Features they have developed during the PI to the stakeholders and customers. The demo provides feedback on the value delivered and the quality of the solution. The other parts of the workshop focus on measuring the performance of the ART and identifying improvement actions for the next PI. References: Inspect and Adapt, PI System Demo

One of the roles of Product Management is to assign business value to Features. Features are services provided by the system that fulfill stakeholder needs. They are the primary artifact for defining, managing, and prioritizing the work of the Agile Release Train (ART). Product Management is responsible for defining and prioritizing the features in the Program Backlog, as well as assigning a business value to each feature based on its expected benefits and costs. The business value is used to guide the economic decision-making and trade-offs during PI Planning and execution. Product Management also collaborates with other roles, such as Solution Management, System Architects, and Business Owners, to ensure that the features align with the solution vision and roadmap, and meet the quality standards and nonfunctional requirements. References: Features - Scaled Agile Framework, Product Management - Scaled Agile Framework

Lean-Agile leaders try to connect the silos of business, software, test, and quality assurance to create a culture of collaboration and shared responsibility across the value stream. By breaking down the barriers between different functions, Lean-Agile leaders enable faster feedback, shorter lead times, higher quality, and better customer satisfaction. Connecting the silos also helps to align the teams around a common vision, mission, and goals, and to foster a Lean-Agile mindset that embraces change and innovation. References: SAFe Core Values, Agile Practice Exam Flashcards, SAFe 4.6 exam prep - Improved - extended Flashcards, Stop Breaking Down Silos and Start Connecting Them

The PO’s best course of action is to communicate the status of the Iteration to all stakeholders, including the other teams on the Agile Release Train (ART), the Release Train Engineer (RTE), the System Architect/Engineer, the Product Management, and the Business Owners. This will help to align expectations, manage dependencies, and mitigate risks. The PO should also collaborate with the team and the stakeholders to prioritize the remaining work and identify the most valuable Stories to deliver by the end of the Iteration. The PO should not defer acceptance testing to the next Iteration, as this would violate the Definition of Done and compromise the quality of the system increment. The PO should not have an emergency Iteration Planning meeting, as this would disrupt the cadence and synchronization of the ART and waste time and resources. The PO should not stop the current Iteration and plan a new Iteration with the new knowledge, as this would also disrupt the cadence and synchronization of the ART and create confusion and uncertainty.

The Portfolio Canvas is a tool that defines the current state of the portfolio, as well as the future state vision, using the Business Model Canvas template1. It describes the development value streams, the solutions they deliver, the customers they serve, the budget allocated to each value stream, and other vital activities and events required to achieve the portfolio vision2. The Portfolio Canvas is used to capture and analyze the current state of the portfolio, as well as to generate and evaluate multiple future state scenarios, based on the SWOT and TOWS analysis2. The Portfolio Canvas provides input for defining the future state vision and the portfolio backlog2. References: Business Model Canvas, Portfolio Vision

Product Management is responsible for defining and prioritizing the ART Backlog, which consists of features and enablers that align with the program vision and roadmap. Product Management also collaborates with System Architects/Engineering, Release Train Engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure the ART delivers value to the customers and users. References: SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team | Scaled Agile, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner - scaledagile.com, SAFe 6.0 for Teams with SP Certification - ICON Agility Services

 The Continuous Delivery Pipeline represents the workflow, activities, and automation needed to deliver new functionality more frequently. It consists of four elements: Continuous Exploration, Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment, and Release on Demand. The pipeline enables faster value delivery, higher quality, and lower risk. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Continuous Delivery Pipeline, Lesson 4: Deliver Value

= The SAFe Lean-Agile principle that involves delivering a continuous flow of value to customers in the shortest sustainable lead time is “Make value flow without interruptions”. This principle is based on the Lean concept of optimizing the whole value stream, from concept to cash, by eliminating delays, queues, handoffs, and rework. By applying practices such as limiting work in progress (WIP), reducing batch sizes, managing queue lengths, and implementing continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), SAFe teams and trains can accelerate the flow of value and feedback, improve quality and reliability, and reduce waste and overhead. References: = SAFe Lean-Agile Principles - Scaled Agile Framework, Accelerating Flow with SAFe - Scaled Agile Framework1, The Five Principles of Lean - Project Management Institute

Emergent design and intentional architecture are two complementary approaches to designing and evolving a system’s architecture. Emergent design enables fast, local control so that teams can react appropriately to changing requirements without excessive attempts to future-proof the system. Intentional architecture provides the guidance needed to ensure that the whole system has conceptual integrity and is fit for its purpose. Balancing these two approaches is required for speed of value delivery and Solution Intent, which is the representation of the desired and actual solution behavior, including the functional and nonfunctional aspects. Solution Intent guides the development and evolution of the solution and helps align the teams and stakeholders on the vision and goals of the solution. References: Architectural Runway, Agile Architecture in SAFe, Balancing Emergent Design and Intentional Architecture in Agile Software Development

Velocity is a measure of how much work a team can complete in an iteration. It is based on the team’s historical performance and estimation accuracy. During iteration execution, a team’s velocity tends to be most affected by factors that change the team’s capacity, collaboration, and context. Changing team size, team makeup, and technical context are examples of such factors. For instance, adding or removing team members, changing team roles or responsibilities, or switching to a different technology or domain can all impact the team’s velocity. Therefore, the correct answer is B. Changing team size, team makeup, and technical context. References: Velocity - Scaled Agile Framework, PRACTICE TEST: SAFe 4 Practitioner Certification Flashcards - Brainscape, During Iteration Execution, a team velocity tends to be most affected …

According to SAFe, a SAFe Portfolio is a set of value streams that delivers a continuous flow of valuable solutions to customers within a common funding and governance model. A SAFe portfolio aligns strategy to execution via a collection of Development Value Streams (DVS). Each DVS develops one or more Solutions necessary for the portfolio to accomplish its business mission and vision, operating under a shared governance model1. A DVS is a long-lived series of steps that an organization uses to deliver value to a customer or stakeholder2. A DVS can be internal or external, and it can span multiple ARTs and suppliers3. A DVS is not the same as a functional team, a solution, or a business unit, which are different ways of organizing work, products, or organizational structures. References: Portfolio - Scaled Agile Framework, Development Value Stream - Scaled Agile Framework, Value Stream - Scaled Agile Framework.

 A quality of an Agile team is that it is cross-functional, meaning that it has all the skills and roles necessary to deliver value to the customer. A cross-functional team can work independently and collaboratively, without relying on external dependencies or handoffs. A cross-functional team can also adapt to changing requirements and feedback, and deliver work in small increments. References: Agile Teams - Scaled Agile Framework, Top 8 Characteristics of High-Performing Agile Team - Techtic Solutions, Agile Q&A: Team Qualities | Agile Alliance, Agile Team Roles and Responsibilities: A Brief Guide - Teamhood

According to SAFe Lean-Agile Principle #10, the enterprise should organize around value to deliver the best value and quality for people and society in the shortest sustainable lead time. This means that the enterprise should create a network of development value streams that can optimize the flow of value by reducing handoffs and delays, bringing together all the necessary personnel, providing intense customer focus, and measuring success by outcome-based key performance indicators. Moreover, the network should be able to rapidly reorganize as necessary to support emerging opportunities and competitive threats, while leveraging the hierarchical system for benefits and stability. Therefore, the correct answer is D. Reorganize the network to address emerging opportunities. References: Principle #10 – Organize around value - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe Lean-Agile Principles - Scaled Agile Framework, The 10th Principle – Lean Agile Guru

The concept of “shift-left” means moving testing and validation activities earlier in the work cycle to get faster or continuous feedback. This helps to identify and fix defects, errors, or issues as soon as possible, reducing the cost and risk of rework and delays. Shift-left testing also supports the agile principle of delivering working software frequently and the lean principle of building quality in. By shifting testing left, teams can ensure that the solutions they deliver meet the customer needs and expectations, as well as the quality standards and compliance requirements. References: Built-In Quality, Shift Left Testing: What, Why & How To Shift Left, What Executives Should Know About Shift-Left Security, What is Shift Left Security?

 The purpose of the Iteration review is to measure the team’s progress by showing working stories to the Product Owner and other stakeholders and getting their feedback. The Iteration review provides a way to gather immediate, contextual feedback from the team’s stakeholders on a regular cadence. The Iteration review also allows the team to demonstrate their contributions, receive feedback to improve the solution, and adjust the Team Backlog based on new opportunities1234. References: Iteration Review - Scaled Agile Framework, Iteration Review - Scaled Agile Framework, What is Iteration review in SAFe® 6.0? - premieragile.com, Iteration Review - Scaled Agile Framework

The SAFe Implementation Roadmap is a strategy and an ordered set of activities that have proven to be effective in successfully implementing SAFe. It is based on organizational change management strategies and provides the critical moves for adopting SAFe. The roadmap consists of 14 steps, from reaching the tipping point to sustaining and improving1. References: 1: Implementation Roadmap - Scaled Agile Framework

According to the SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner handbook and study guide, a decrease in variability leads to an increase in predictability. Variability is the degree of uncertainty or variation in the outcomes of a process or a system. High variability means that the outcomes are more likely to deviate from the expected or desired results, which makes them harder to plan and control. Low variability means that the outcomes are more consistent and closer to the expected or desired results, which makes them easier to plan and control. Predictability is the ability to forecast or anticipate the outcomes of a process or a system with a high degree of confidence and accuracy. High predictability means that the outcomes are more likely to match the forecasts or expectations, which reduces the risk of failure and increases the value delivery. Low predictability means that the outcomes are more likely to differ from the forecasts or expectations, which increases the risk of failure and decreases the value delivery. Therefore, a decrease in variability leads to an increase in predictability, as the outcomes become more stable and reliable. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team, Assume variability; preserve options - Scaled Agile Framework

The Product Owner (PO) is the Agile team member primarily responsible for maximizing the value delivered by the team by ensuring that the team backlog is aligned with customer and stakeholder needs1. The PO has content authority to make decisions at the User Story level during PI Planning, as they are the team’s primary customer advocate and primary link to business and technology strategy1. The PO also works with Product Management and other stakeholders to define the features and enablers that are part of the Program Backlog2. During PI Planning, the PO presents the team backlog, reviews and revises the draft plan, and defines and communicates the team PI objectives2. References: Product Owner, PI Planning

The three levels of the Scaled Agile Framework are Essential, Large Solution, and Portfolio. These levels represent the different levels of abstraction and complexity involved in delivering value to customers. The Essential level is the foundation of SAFe and includes the Team and Program levels, where agile teams and agile release trains (ARTs) work together to deliver solutions. The Large Solution level is an optional level that supports the coordination and alignment of multiple ARTs and suppliers that build large and complex solutions that require additional roles, events, and artifacts. The Portfolio level is the highest level of SAFe and provides strategic direction, funding, governance, and value stream management for the entire portfolio of solutions. References: SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, SAFe 5.0 Framework

The Product Owner (PO) in the team is responsible for sequencing backlog items to program priorities, events, and dependencies. The PO works with the Product Manager, who owns the Vision and the Roadmap, to define and sequence the features in the Program Backlog1. The PO also collaborates with other POs in the Agile Release Train (ART) to manage dependencies and ensure alignment across teams2. The PO maintains and prioritizes the Team Backlog, which is the single source of truth for the upcoming features of the system3. The PO also participates in the Program Increment (PI) Planning, where the team’s PI objectives are aligned with the program priorities and dependencies4. References: Product Owner - Scaled Agile Framework, Team Backlog - Scaled Agile Framework, Program Backlog - Scaled Agile Framework, PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework

Story points are a relative measure of the effort required to implement a user story. They take into account the volume, complexity, knowledge, and uncertainty of the work. Volume refers to how much work there is, complexity refers to how hard it is, knowledge refers to what is known or unknown, and uncertainty refers to the risk or variability involved. Story points help agile teams estimate their work and plan their iterations. References: Story - Scaled Agile Framework, Story Point - Scaled Agile Framework, Understanding complexity | Range

A cadence-based PI Planning event is a face-to-face event that serves as the heartbeat of the Agile Release Train (ART), aligning all the teams on the ART to a shared mission and vision. It is essential to SAFe and should not be skipped or delayed. It is an opportunity for all team members and stakeholders to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate their work for the next Program Increment (PI), which is typically 8-12 weeks long. The PI Planning event has a standard agenda that includes a presentation of business context and vision, followed by team planning breakouts, where the teams create their Iteration plans and objectives for the upcoming PI. The event also includes a management review and problem-solving session, where the teams identify and resolve dependencies, risks, and impediments. The event concludes with a confidence vote and a final plan review, where the teams present their PI objectives and receive feedback from the business owners. The PI Planning event is a key enabler of alignment, transparency, and collaboration across the ART. References: PI Planning, Planning Interval, PI Planning vs Sprint Planning: What Is the Ultimate Goal of the PI Planning Event?

A servant leader is someone who puts the needs of others first and helps them develop and perform to their highest potential. The RTE is a servant leader who listens and supports teams in problem identification and decision-making, by facilitating ART events and processes, communicating with stakeholders, escalating impediments, and helping manage risk. The RTE also leads by example, by demonstrating the Lean-Agile mindset and values, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, and driving relentless improvement.

The Portfolio Kanban system is a method to visualize and manage the flow of portfolio Epics, from ideation through analysis, implementation, and completion. The Portfolio Kanban system is operated by the Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) function, which is responsible for strategy and investment funding, Agile portfolio operations, and Lean governance. The LPM function consists of three collaborating roles: the Enterprise Architect, the Lean Portfolio Manager, and the Operational Excellence Manager. The LPM function uses the strategic portfolio review and portfolio sync events to manage and monitor the flow of work in the Portfolio Kanban system. References: Portfolio Kanban - Scaled Agile Framework, Lean Portfolio Management - Scaled Agile Framework

 SAFe Team Kanban is a type of SAFe Agile Team that relies on a continually-refined Team Backlog as the primary input to drive value delivery. SAFe Team Kanban is a method that helps teams manage and improve the flow of value across the Continuous Delivery Pipeline. It is based on the principles of Lean and Kanban, which aim to optimize the system, limit work in progress (WIP), implement feedback loops, and empower the team. SAFe Team Kanban uses a visual board to track the flow of work from the Team Backlog to the Done state. The Team Backlog is a subset of the Program Backlog that contains the user stories, enablers, and defects that the team needs to work on. The Team Backlog is constantly refined and prioritized by the Product Owner, who collaborates with the team and other stakeholders to ensure that the most valuable and feasible work items are selected for implementation. References: Team Kanban - Scaled Agile Framework, Team Kanban - Scaled Agile Framework

 Scrum is a framework that enables teams to deliver value in complex and uncertain environments. Scrum is based on the agile manifesto, which values individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change. Scrum consists of three roles (Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developers), five events (Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective, and Sprint), and three artifacts (Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment). Scrum teams work in short iterations called Sprints, where they plan, execute, and deliver a potentially releasable product increment. Scrum teams inspect and adapt their process and product continuously, using empirical feedback and data. Scrum teams are self-organized, meaning they decide how to best accomplish their work, and cross-functional, meaning they have all the skills needed to create a product increment.

= The Inspect and Adapt event is a significant event held at the end of each PI, where the current state of the Solution is demonstrated and evaluated. Teams then reflect and identify improvement backlog items via a structured problem-solving workshop1. The Inspect and Adapt event always starts with the PI System Demo, which is the first part of the event. The PI System Demo shows all the Features the ART has developed during the PI, and provides an opportunity for feedback from stakeholders and customers2. The PI System Demo is followed by quantitative and qualitative measurement, where the ART reviews the progress and performance of the PI, and evaluates the business value achieved3. The last part of the Inspect and Adapt event is the Retrospective and Problem Solving Workshop, where the ART identifies the root causes of the most critical issues and creates improvement backlog items4. References: = 1: Inspect and Adapt - Scaled Agile Framework1; 2: Inspect and Adapt - Scaled Agile Framework1; 3: Inspect and Adapt - Scaled Agile Framework1; 4: Inspect and Adapt - Scaled Agile Framework1

Customer Centricity is a mindset that helps organizations make decisions that are based on a deep understanding of its effect on customers and end-users. It motivates teams to focus on the customer, understand their needs, think and feel like them, build whole product solutions, and know their lifetime value. Customer Centricity is related to Design Thinking, which provides the tools and practices to support creating desirable products that are profitable and sustainable over their lifecycle. References: Customer Centricity - Scaled Agile Framework, Design Thinking - Scaled Agile Framework, What is Customer Centricity in SAFe® 5.0? - Praecipio

Guiding investments by horizon is one of the four Lean budget guardrails that describe the policies and practices for budgeting, spending, and governance for a specific portfolio. This guardrail helps ensure that the portfolio allocates its budget to solutions that reflect different time horizons and risk profiles, balancing near-term opportunities with long-term strategy and growth1. The portfolio-level guidance for investments by horizon is based on the four horizons model2, which categorizes solutions into four types: Horizon 0 (solutions that are being decommissioned), Horizon 1 (solutions that are mature and generate most of the current revenue), Horizon 2 (solutions that are emerging and have high growth potential), and Horizon 3 (solutions that are exploratory and have high uncertainty). Each value stream should allocate its budget to solutions in these horizons according to the portfolio’s vision and roadmap1. References: 1: Lean Budget Guardrails - Scaled Agile Framework2: Investment Horizons - Scaled Agile Framework

According to the Scaled Agile Framework, the ART Planning Board is a visualization of the PI’s feature delivery dates, feature dependencies among teams, and relevant milestones1. Features are the primary elements that are planned and tracked on the ART Planning Board2.

Epics, user stories, and tasks are not found on the ART Planning Board, but they are related to features in different ways. Epics are large initiatives that span multiple ARTs and PIs, and they are decomposed into features and enablers2. User stories and tasks are smaller units of work that are used by teams to implement features within iterations2.

Iteration goals are short, specific, and measurable statements that describe what the Agile team intends to accomplish in an Iteration. They are derived from the team backlog, the PI objectives, and the team vision. Iteration goals help to align the team to a common vision of work in the Iteration, and provide clarity, focus, and motivation. Iteration goals also enable the team to communicate their progress and dependencies to other teams and stakeholders, and to demonstrate value delivery in the system demo. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Iteration GoalsQUESTION NO: 41

Which situation should use the Large Solution SAFe configuration?

A. Organizations that need to have System Demos after each Iteration

B. Organizations that operate in an environment that requires compliance for complex, high-assurance systems

C. Organizations that need to scale Agile across the Enterprise

D. Every large Enterprise that uses SAFe

Answer: B

The Large Solution SAFe configuration is for enterprises that are building large and complex solutions that typically require multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs) and Suppliers, but do not require portfolio-level considerations1. This configuration is suitable for organizations that operate in an environment that requires compliance for complex, high-assurance systems, such as aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, and financial industries2. The Large Solution SAFe configuration includes a stronger focus on capturing requirements in the Solution Intent, coordinating multiple ARTs and Suppliers, and ensuring compliance with regulations and standards3. References: Large Solution - Scaled Agile Framework, Large Solution SAFe - Scaled Agile Framework, Different SAFe Configurations Explained | Inflectra

The purpose of building a continuous delivery pipeline is to enable a streamlined and automated process of delivering software value to the end users. A continuous delivery pipeline consists of four aspects: continuous exploration, continuous integration, continuous deployment, and release on demand. These aspects work together to support the delivery of small batches of new functionality, which are then released to fulfill market demand. Building and maintaining a continuous delivery pipeline allows each Agile Release Train (ART) to deliver new functionality to users far more frequently than with traditional processes, which often involve long and complex release cycles. By delivering value more frequently, the ART can respond faster to customer feedback, reduce waste, improve quality, and increase business agility. References: Continuous Delivery Pipeline - Scaled Agile Framework, Continuous Delivery Pipeline - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe Continuous Delivery Pipeline: A Comprehensive Guide to the …, Continuous Delivery Pipeline: The 5 Stages Explained - Codefresh

n: A backlog refinement session is a periodic activity teams use to define, discuss, estimate, and establish acceptance criteria for upcoming backlog items1. One key benefit of a backlog refinement session is that it provides time to identify dependencies and issues that could impact the next iteration. By doing so, teams can reduce uncertainty, avoid surprises, and plan more effectively. Backlog refinement also helps surface problems with the current plan, which may require discussion at the team, PO, or coach syncs2. Additionally, backlog refinement helps teams align their backlog with the ART backlog, the PI objectives, and the customer needs2. References: Backlog Refinement - Scaled Agile Framework, Team Backlog - Scaled Agile Framework

According to SAFe, an Agile team is a cross-functional group of 5-11 individuals who define, build, test, and deliver an increment of value in a short time box1. This size allows for enough diversity of skills and perspectives while still allowing for close collaboration and communication among team members. Larger teams tend to have more communication overhead, coordination challenges, and reduced productivity. Smaller teams may lack some of the necessary skills or perspectives to deliver value effectively. References: Agile Teams - Scaled Agile Framework, What is the Recommended Size of an Agile Team? - StuffSure, The Number 7: Why is it so important? - agile42

Strategic Themes are portfolio-level business objectives that provide competitive differentiation and strategic advantage. They influence portfolio strategy and provide business context for portfolio decision-making1. Lean budget Guardrails are the spending policies and guidelines that enable decentralized decision-making and empowerment for value streams2. Strategic Themes affect the allocation of funds and resources to value streams, as well as the guidance for investments in existing and new solutions1. Therefore, Strategic Themes influence Lean budget Guardrails directly. References: Strategic Themes, Lean Budgets, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner

Conducting a PI Planning event is an example of applying cadence-based synchronization in SAFe. A PI Planning event is a two-day face-to-face or virtual meeting where all the members of an ART and Solution Train collaborate to align on a common vision, mission, and backlog, and plan the work for the next Program Increment (PI). A PI is a fixed timebox of 8 to 12 weeks that provides a regular cadence for delivering value. The PI Planning event is synchronized across all the teams and trains in the portfolio, and it occurs at the beginning of every PI. The PI Planning event enables the ART and Solution Train to achieve alignment, collaboration, synchronization, and commitment, as well as to identify and address risks and dependencies. References: = PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

 During the team breakout session, each team creates and estimates their Stories, and sequences them into a draft plan for the upcoming PI. This is where the team backlog is refined and prioritized, and dependencies are identified and resolved. References: SAFe for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, SAFe for Teams | SAFe Practitioner (SP) Certification

Resizing the work is one method for reducing queue length in SAFe. Queue length is the number of work items waiting to be processed in a system. Reducing queue length can improve flow, reduce cycle time, and increase throughput. Resizing the work means breaking down large work items into smaller ones that can be completed faster and with less variability. Smaller work items also reduce the risk of rework, defects, and delays. Resizing the work can be done at any level of SAFe, from portfolio epics to team stories. SAFe provides several techniques for resizing the work, such as Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF), Minimum Marketable Features (MMFs), Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and Spikes1. References: Principle #6 - Visualize and Limit WIP, Reduce Batch Sizes, and Manage Queue Lengths - Scaled Agile Framework

A technical exploration enabler is a type of enabler that supports research, prototyping, and other activities needed to develop an understanding of customer needs, including the exploration of prospective solutions and evaluation of alternatives1. A technical exploration enabler can be demonstrated by showing the knowledge gained by the exploration, such as the results of experiments, the insights from data analysis, the feedback from customers or stakeholders, the lessons learned from failures, or the recommendations for future actions2. Showing the knowledge gained by the exploration helps to validate the assumptions and hypotheses, measure the value and feasibility of the solution, and inform the decision-making process3. The other options are not valid ways to demonstrate a technical exploration enabler, as they either do not reflect the purpose of the exploration, or imply that the exploration is not necessary or valuable. References: Enablers - Scaled Agile Framework, How can a technical exploration enabler be demonstrated?, Principle #4 - Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles - Scaled Agile Framework

Cadence-based synchronization in SAFe means that teams follow a common rhythm of work and coordinate their activities across different domains. One example of applying this principle is to align the start and end dates of the Iterations, which are fixed-length timeboxes for teams to deliver value. This helps teams plan and execute their work in sync with other teams on the Agile Release Train (ART) and the Solution Train, and enables them to participate in the PI Planning and other events that require cross-team collaboration. References: Principle #7 – Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning, Iteration, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

he Problem Solving Workshop is a structured approach to identifying the root cause and actions to address systemic problems. It is part of the Inspect and Adapt event that occurs at the end of each Program Increment. The six steps in the Problem Solving Workshop are:

Choose a problem to solve—agreement not required: The Release Train Engineer (RTE) facilitates a brainstorming session to generate a list of potential problems that affect the ART’s performance. The participants use dot voting to prioritize the problems and select the most important one to solve. Agreement is not required, as the majority vote determines the problem to focus on.

Perform root cause analysis: The RTE leads the team in applying the ‘Five Whys’ technique to drill down to the root cause of the problem. The team asks ‘why’ repeatedly until they reach a cause that is actionable and within their control.

Brainstorm solutions: The team generates a list of possible solutions to address the root cause. They use divergent thinking to come up with as many ideas as possible, without judging or evaluating them.

Decide on the best solution: The team uses convergent thinking to narrow down the list of solutions and select the best one. They can use criteria such as feasibility, impact, cost, and alignment with the SAFe Principles and Values to evaluate the solutions.

Define and visualize the improvement backlog items: The team defines the improvement backlog items that will implement the chosen solution. They write them in the format of ‘As a [role], I can [action], so that [outcome]’. They also visualize the items on a Kanban board or a similar tool to track their progress and status.

Assign owners and agree on the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals: The team assigns owners to each improvement backlog item and agrees on the SMART goals that will measure the success of the solution. They also define the acceptance criteria and the expected benefits of the improvement.

One issue when organizing around functional silos is that they impede how value flows from concept to delivery. Functional silos create barriers and delays between different teams and departments, which can result in waste, rework, handoffs, and misalignment. To achieve business agility, enterprises need to organize around value streams, which are the primary constructs for understanding, organizing, and delivering value in SAFe. Value streams are long-lived series of steps that deliver value to the customer or end user. By organizing around value streams, enterprises can optimize the flow of value across functional boundaries, reduce lead time, and increase customer satisfaction. References: SAFe for Teams Student Workbook: materials and exercises from Lesson 1; [v5.scaledagileframework.com/organize-around-value/]; [v5.scaledagileframework.com/value-streams/]

The Portfolio Kanban is a method to visualize, manage, and analyze the flow of portfolio epics from ideation to implementation1. It brings structure to analysis and decision making around epics by defining the states and Work in Process (WIP) limits for each state, as well as the entry and exit criteria1. The Portfolio Kanban also helps prioritize and sequence the epics based on the Lean business case and the Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) technique1. The Portfolio Kanban enables the Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) to align the portfolio strategy and investment funding with the implementation capacity of the value streams2. References: Portfolio Kanban, Lean Portfolio Management

Iteration Planning is a key event in the SAFe framework that occurs at the beginning of each Iteration. It is a timeboxed meeting where the Agile team collaborates to plan the work for the upcoming Iteration, based on the team backlog, the Iteration goal, and the team capacity. Iteration Planning enables fast learning cycles by allowing the team to inspect and adapt their work frequently, deliver value incrementally, and respond to changing customer needs and feedback. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Planning the Iteration, Executing the Iteration

 The balance between emergent design and intentional architecture when building in quality is required for speed of development and maintainability. Emergent design is the practice of defining and evolving the architecture only as necessary to deliver the next increment of functionality, based on the feedback and learning from the previous increments. Intentional architecture is the practice of defining and implementing some upfront design guidelines and standards that enable the integration and evolution of the solution across multiple teams and domains. Both practices are implemented with enablers, which are technical items that support the development and delivery of features and capabilities. The balance between emergent design and intentional architecture allows the teams and the Agile Release Train (ART) to deliver value faster, with higher quality and lower risk, and to maintain and improve the solution over time12. The other options are not accurate descriptions of the balance between emergent design and intentional architecture, as they either do not reflect the benefits of both practices, or use terms that are not relevant to the SAFe context. References: Architectural Runway - Scaled Agile Framework, Built-In Quality - Scaled Agile Framework

n: Agile development is more beneficial than waterfall development because it increases productivity and employee engagement by empowering teams to self-organize, collaborate, and deliver value in small increments. It also allows businesses to deliver value to the market more quickly by reducing the feedback cycle, adapting to changing requirements, and releasing high-quality products frequently. References: SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Lean-Agile Mindset, Continuous Delivery Pipeline

Objectives and key results (OKRs) are a framework for defining and tracking measurable goals and outcomes. OKRs consist of an objective, which is a concise, qualitative, and inspirational statement of what is to be achieved, and one or more key results, which are specific, quantitative, and time-bound measures of progress toward the objective. OKRs help align teams and individuals around a common vision, focus on the most important outcomes, and foster a culture of feedback and learning. In SAFe, OKRs are used at the portfolio, solution, and program levels to communicate and evaluate strategic intent and business value delivery12. References: Objectives and Key Results - Scaled Agile Framework, OKRs: A Simple Way to Set and Achieve Your Goals.

The Portfolio canvas is a tool that helps define the value streams, solutions, customers, budgets, and other key aspects of a SAFe portfolio. One of the inputs to the Portfolio canvas is the Enterprise Strategy, which describes the vision, mission, goals, and objectives of the organization. The Enterprise Strategy provides the context and direction for the portfolio vision, which in turn guides the identification and prioritization of portfolio epics and value streams. The Enterprise Strategy also influences the allocation of lean budgets and the alignment of strategic themes across the portfolio. References: Portfolio Vision, Portfolio SAFe, What Sections Are Included In SAFe® Portfolio Canvas?, [Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner]

One of the recommended ways of splitting Features into Stories during a PI Planning event is to use the horizontal slicing technique, which means implementing the simplest variant of the functionality first and then adding more complexity and variations as enhancements. This technique helps to deliver value incrementally, reduce risk, and enable fast feedback and learning. Horizontal slicing also supports the application of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and Minimum Marketable Feature (MMF) concepts, which aim to deliver the smallest amount of functionality that can provide value and validate assumptions. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Feature, Story

Personas are fictional characters that represent the different user types within a targeted demographic, attitude, and/or behavior set that might use a product or service1. They are one of the practices used to understand the problem space during the discover phase of Design Thinking, as they help design thinkers empathize with the users and their needs, goals, and pain points2. Personas also help define the problem statement in a human-centered manner and guide the ideation and prototyping phases2. References: Personas, Design Thinking

Telemetry is a method for gathering customer feedback that relies on building analytic systems to deliver information about how customers are using the Solution. Telemetry is the automated collection and transmission of data from remote sources, such as sensors, devices, or software applications. Telemetry can provide valuable insights into customer behavior, preferences, satisfaction, and usage patterns, as well as identify potential issues, errors, or defects. Telemetry is often used in conjunction with other feedback methods, such as surveys, interviews, or user testing, to validate hypotheses and measure outcomes. References: Continuous Delivery Pipeline, Customer Feedback, Telemetry

 One way to understand current work in progress (WIP) in a system is to make current work visible to all stakeholders. This means using visual tools, such as Kanban boards, to show the status, flow, and bottlenecks of work items in the system. Making current work visible helps to identify and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths, which are key principles for achieving flow and delivering value faster1. Making current work visible also enables faster feedback, collaboration, and improvement, as well as transparency and alignment of goals and expectations23. References: = 1: Principle #6 - Visualize and Limit WIP, Reduce Batch Sizes, and Manage Queue Lengths - Scaled Agile Framework1; 2: Controlling Work-in-Process (WIP) - Project Management Institute2; 3: How to Identify and Measure Your Work in Progress (WIP)3

During the draft plan review, the teams present their draft PI objectives and plans to the other teams and the Business Owners. The Business Owners then assign a business value to each PI objective, based on the conversation with the team and the alignment with the vision and goals. The business value is a number between 1 (lowest) and 10 (highest) that reflects the relative importance and expected benefit of the objective. The business value is used to measure the ART’s predictability and performance at the end of the PI. References: PI Objectives, PI Planning, Your Guide to Writing Great Iteration and PI Objectives

 The Agile Release Train (ART) is a long-lived team of Agile teams that incrementally develops, delivers, and often operates one or more solutions in a value stream1. The ART aligns teams to a common mission using a single Vision and a Program Backlog. The Vision is a description of the future state of the solution under development. It reflects customer and stakeholder needs, as well as the features and capabilities planned for the solution2. The Program Backlog is the single source of truth for the upcoming features of the system. It contains the enablers necessary to build the Architectural Runway, as well as the user and business features that deliver customer value3. The Vision and the Program Backlog provide the context and the content for the ART to plan, commit, develop, and deploy together. References: Agile Release Train - Scaled Agile Framework, Vision - Scaled Agile Framework, Program Backlog - Scaled Agile Framework

 A high-functioning Agile Team is a cross-functional group of typically ten or fewer individuals with all the skills necessary to define, build, test, and deliver value to their customer1. Team A is not cross-functional because they depend on another team to test and deploy their work, which creates handoffs and delays in the value delivery process. A cross-functional team should be able to perform all the activities required to deliver a potentially releasable increment of value in each iteration2. Team A should collaborate with the other team to integrate their testing and deployment capabilities and form a single Agile Team that can deliver value independently. References: Agile Teams - Scaled Agile Framework, 7 Qualities of High-Performing Agile Teams | AgileConnection

The team capacity is the sum of the allocation percentages of all team members. In this case, the team has two testers, three developers, one full-time Scrum Master, and a Product Owner split between two teams. Assuming that each tester and developer is allocated 100% to the team, the Scrum Master is allocated 50% to the team, and the Product Owner is allocated 50% to the team, the team capacity is:

2 x 100% + 3 x 100% + 1 x 50% + 1 x 50% = 600%

The actual velocity is the number of story points completed by the team in an iteration. Assuming that the team completed 40 story points in the first iteration, the actual velocity is:

40

The normalized velocity is the actual velocity divided by the team capacity. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

40 / 600% = 6.67

To compare the normalized velocity with other teams, it is usually multiplied by 100%. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

6.67 x 100% = 66.67

To compare the normalized velocity with other teams that have five full-time members, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

66.67 / 5 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually multiplied by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14 x 6 = 84

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 5 = 16

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 4, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 4. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually multiplied by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16 x 5 = 80

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually divided by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 6 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually multiplied by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14 x 6 = 84

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 5 = 16

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 4, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 4. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually multiplied by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16 x 5 = 80

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually divided by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 6 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually multiplied by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14 x 6 = 84

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 5 = 16

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 4, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 4. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually multiplied by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16 x 5 = 80

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually divided by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 6 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually multiplied by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14 x 6 = 84

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 5 = 16

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 4, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 4. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually multiplied by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16 x 5 = 80

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually divided by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 6 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually multiplied by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14 x 6 = 84

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 5 = 16

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 4, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 4. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually multiplied by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16 x 5 = 80

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually divided by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 6 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team,

Decentralized decision-making is one of the principles of the Lean-Agile mindset, which is the foundation of SAFe. It empowers teams and individuals to make decisions based on the local context and the best available information, rather than waiting for approval from higher authorities. This reduces delays, increases speed, and improves responsiveness to customer needs. It also fosters innovation, learning, and ownership of the outcomes. References: Lean-Agile Mindset, Unlock the Intrinsic Motivation of Knowledge Workers, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner

= Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) is one of the seven core competencies of the Lean Enterprise that helps align strategy and execution. LPM enables enterprises to establish and communicate a set of strategic themes that provide business context for decision making and investment allocation. LPM also helps to apply Lean budgeting and guardrails to empower decentralized program execution and foster innovation. LPM also supports Agile portfolio operations and governance by providing the necessary visibility, coordination, and collaboration across the portfolio. References: = SAFe for Lean Enterprises, Lean Portfolio Management

= The Agile Team responsibility that is associated with the Iteration Retrospective is “Improve relentlessly”. This responsibility reflects the SAFe Core Value of Relentless Improvement, which means that the team continuously reflects on their practices, identifies improvement opportunities, and implements them in the next iteration. The Iteration Retrospective is a regular event where the team members discuss the results of the iteration, review their practices, and identify ways to improve. The team uses various techniques to collect feedback, perform root cause analysis, and prioritize improvement actions. The improvement actions are added to the Team Backlog and reviewed in the next Iteration Planning event. References: = Relentless Improvement - Scaled Agile Framework, Iteration Retrospective - Scaled Agile Framework1

According to the SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner handbook and study guide, a work in process (WIP) constraint is a limit on the amount of work that can be done at any stage of the value stream. The purpose of a WIP constraint is to reduce the batch size, manage the queue length, and improve the flow of value. By limiting the WIP, teams can focus on completing the most important work items, collaborate more effectively, and deliver value faster and more frequently. A WIP constraint also helps teams identify and resolve bottlenecks, reduce waste, and increase quality. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team, [Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths]

The PI Planning event is a two-day event that brings together all the teams and stakeholders of an Agile Release Train (ART) to align on a common vision, mission, and goals for the upcoming Program Increment (PI). The goal of the PI Planning event is to achieve alignment on what needs to and can be built by the ART in the next PI, based on the business context, customer needs, and technical dependencies. The PI Planning event also fosters collaboration, communication, and commitment among the teams and stakeholders, and helps identify and address the risks and impediments that may affect the delivery of value. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, [PI Planning]

 SAFe recommends using a second operating system to deliver value by creating a dual operating system that consists of a Network and a Hierarchy. The Network is optimized for speed and adaptability, while the Hierarchy is optimized for efficiency and stability. The Network is composed of development value streams (DVSs) that are realized by product-focused Agile Release Trains (ARTs). The ARTs are cross-functional teams that work together to deliver software products on a regular schedule. The Hierarchy provides the necessary support and governance for the Network, such as operations, HR, finance, and compliance. By using a second operating system, SAFe enables business agility by allowing the organization to organize and reorganize around the flow of value, while maintaining the benefits and stability of the existing hierarchical structure. References: Business Agility, Principle #10 – Organize around value, How Does SAFe Enable Business Agility Through A Second Operating System, How does safe provide a second operating system that enables business agility

SAFe recommends running a Retrospective on a cadence during the PI for SAFe Team Kanban Teams. A Retrospective is a team-level event that occurs at the end of each iteration, where the team reflects on how they are working and identifies improvement actions for the next iteration. A Retrospective helps the team pursue perfection by applying the Plan-Do-Check-Adjust (PDCA) cycle1. SAFe Team Kanban Teams also participate in other ART events, such as PI Planning, System Demo, and Inspect and Adapt2. References: 1: Retrospective - Scaled Agile Framework2: SAFe Team Kanban - Scaled Agile Framework

= The recommended final agenda item of PI Planning is taking the PI confidence vote. This is a simple and quick way to assess the level of confidence and commitment of the teams and stakeholders to the PI objectives and plan. The PI confidence vote is done by asking each team member and stakeholder to hold up one to five fingers, indicating their confidence level from low to high. The average score across the ART is calculated and displayed. If the score is below 3, the teams and stakeholders are asked to identify the top issues or risks that lower their confidence and propose mitigation actions. The confidence vote is repeated until the score reaches 3 or above, or the timebox expires. The confidence vote helps to surface and address potential impediments, foster alignment and accountability, and create a sense of ownership and empowerment for the PI plan. References: = PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, PI Confidence Vote - Scaled Agile Framework

According to the Lean-Agile Leadership competency of SAFe, management must commit to quality and take responsibility to change the system for a successful Agile transformation. This means that leaders must lead by example, learn and model the Lean-Agile mindset, values, principles, and practices, and lead the change to a new way of working. They must also empower and engage individuals and teams to reach their highest potential, and create a culture of relentless improvement and innovation1. Management cannot delegate or outsource the responsibility of leading the Agile transformation, as they are the ones who have the authority and influence to change and improve the systems that govern how work is performed2. References: 1: Lean-Agile Leadership - Scaled Agile Framework2: What Must Management Do for a Successful Agile Transformation?

Culture is the first element of the CALMR approach to DevOps in SAFe. It refers to the shared mindset and values that support successful DevOps adoption. Culture in SAFe is influenced by the Lean-Agile principles and practices that guide the entire framework. Culture in DevOps requires customer-centricity, collaboration, trust, empowerment, learning, and feedback among all the stakeholders involved in the value stream. Culture also fosters a shift-left mentality, where operational and quality concerns are addressed early and often in the development process. Culture is the foundation for the other elements of CALMR: automation, lean flow, measurement, and recovery1. One of the aspects of culture is to establish a work environment of shared responsibility, where everyone in the value stream is accountable for the quality and security of the solution, and for the outcomes delivered to the customer2. This means breaking down the silos and barriers between development, operations, security, and other teams, and creating a culture of mutual trust and respect3. Shared responsibility also means that everyone in the value stream has the authority and autonomy to make decisions and take actions that support the delivery of value, while following the guardrails and policies established by the enterprise4. References: CALMR - Scaled Agile Framework, Culture - Scaled Agile Framework, What Is DevOps? - Scaled Agile Framework, Decentralize Decision Making - Scaled Agile Framework

 An Iteration is a fixed timebox during which an Agile team delivers a potentially releasable increment of value. The recommended length of an Iteration is two weeks, as this allows for fast feedback, adaptation, and learning cycles. Longer Iterations may increase the risk of overcommitment, scope creep, and reduced quality. Shorter Iterations may increase the overhead of planning and coordination, and reduce the amount of value delivered per Iteration. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, [Iteration]

 Knowledge is one of the factors that affect the size of a story. It refers to what is known or unknown about the story, such as the requirements, the design, the technology, the domain, the dependencies, and the risks. The more unknowns there are, the larger the story size will be, as it will require more effort, complexity, and uncertainty to implement. Knowledge is one of the components of the story point estimation technique, which is a relative measure of the effort required to implement a story. Story points take into account the volume, complexity, knowledge, and uncertainty of the work. References: Story - Scaled Agile Framework, Story Point - Scaled Agile Framework, How to Estimate Agile Stories: Introducing Relative Sizing - LeanDog, Estimate Story - Quickscrum, Agile Estimation – Feature and Story Sizing Scales

A user story is a work type that is defined as “a short description of a small piece of desired functionality written in the user’s language” in SAFe. A user story is a primary artifact used to define system behavior in Agile. It is a simple and concise way of expressing the user’s needs and expectations from the system. A user story typically follows the format of “As a [role], I want [functionality], so that [benefit]”. A user story also has acceptance criteria and acceptance tests that specify how the functionality will be verified and validated. A user story is intended to enable the implementation of a small, vertical slice of system behavior that supports incremental development. A user story is maintained and prioritized in the team backlog by the product owner1. References: Story - Scaled Agile Framework

 = Making quality everyone’s responsibility is critical to successfully implementing quality in a Lean-Agile environment. This means that all the people involved in creating and delivering value to the customer, from business functions to software applications, share the same quality standards and practices. Quality is not something that can be delegated or outsourced to a separate team or department. It is embedded in the culture, mindset, and behavior of every individual and team. Making quality everyone’s responsibility enables faster feedback, continuous improvement, and higher customer satisfaction12. References: = 1: Built-In Quality - Scaled Agile Framework2; 2: How to Implement Quality in a Lean-Agile Environment Successfully1

 Culture is the first element of the CALMR approach to DevOps in SAFe. It refers to the shared mindset and values that support successful DevOps adoption. Culture in SAFe is influenced by the Lean-Agile principles and practices that guide the entire framework. Culture in DevOps requires customer-centricity, collaboration, trust, empowerment, learning, and feedback among all the stakeholders involved in the value stream. Culture also fosters a shift-left mentality, where operational and quality concerns are addressed early and often in the development process. Culture is the foundation for the other elements of CALMR: automation, lean flow, measurement, and recovery. References: CALMR - Scaled Agile Framework, The CALMR Approach to DevOps [Complete Guide] - KnowledgeHut

 The Product/Solution Vision presentation is the PI Planning activity where Product Management introduces the prioritized Features to the teams for planning. This presentation provides the teams with a clear and compelling vision of the expected outcomes and benefits of the upcoming PI. It also includes the top Features and Capabilities that are needed to realize the vision, along with their priorities and dependencies. The teams use this information to plan their Iteration goals and PI objectives, as well as to identify risks and issues that may affect their delivery. References: = PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

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The team is waterfalling the Iteration, which means they are following a sequential and rigid process of development, testing, and fixing, instead of an iterative and incremental approach. This is not aligned with the Agile principles and practices, which advocate for delivering working software frequently, with continuous feedback and improvement. Waterfalling the Iteration reduces the team’s ability to respond to change, deliver value, and collaborate effectively. It also increases the risk of accumulating technical debt, defects, and rework. References: Iteration Execution - Scaled Agile Framework, SCALING: SP - SAFe for Teams 4.6 Flashcards - Brainscape